How to win a political debate: Propose marriage?
A Rhode Island mayoral candidate popped the question to his girlfriend at the end of a televised debate

The video: Christopher Young, a Democratic candidate for mayor in Providence, RI, punctuated his closing statement in a televised debate this week by proposing to Kara Russo, his longtime girlfriend and campaign manager. From her seat in the audience, Russo, who is running for Congress and lieutenant governor as a Republican, shouted her acceptance. Young, beaming, placed a small box with an engagement ring on top of his podium. But, after television viewers tuned out and an online portion of the debate started, Young said it was a "conditional engagement" contingent on his election as mayor.
The reaction: Politically, Young may be nothing but a "perennial gadfly candidate," says Ted Nesi at WPRI.com, but his romantic proposal definitely "stole the show." Young's history of running and losing is noteworthy here, says Christine Mathias at Salon. If this really is a "conditional engagement," Russo shouldn't call the caterer just yet. Watch Young's proposal below:
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Trump uses tariffs to upend Brazil's domestic politics
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By slapping a 50% tariff on Brazil for its criminal investigation into Bolsonaro, the Trump administration is brazenly putting its fingers on the scales of a key foreign election
-
3 questions to ask when deciding whether to repair or replace your broken appliance
the explainer There may be merit to fixing what you already have, but sometimes buying new is even more cost-effective
-
'Trump's authoritarian manipulation of language'
Instant Opinion Vienna has become a 'convenient target for populists' | Opinion, comment and editorials of the day